Clamping device



June 1, 1948. A. A.- MacDONALD CLAMPING DEVICE Filed Nov. 30, 1945 Patented June 1, 1948 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLAMPING DEVICE Archibald A. MacDonald, Boston, Mass.

Application November 30, 1945, Serial No. 631,978

3 Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improved clamping device, or fastener, and more particularly to the clothes pin type formed from a single length of wire of resilient material. I

An object of my invention is an improved clamping device formed from a single length of wire bent to form an enclosing passage for a clothes line, and having resilient closing means therefor to prevent accidental dislodgment from the clothes line.

Another object is an improved device formed from a single length of wire having legs defining a flared opening at their outer ends, and an enclosing passage at their inner ends, and with a resilient closure for said passage.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of my device which is shown enlarged.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view from the left of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view from the right of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a sectional plan view, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, I designates a single length of wire from which the device is constructed. This length of wire I0 is formed, at a point midway its ends, into a double anchor loop, one loop being designated I2, and the other loop being designated I3. From the double anchor loop the ends of the wire I0 are brought downwardly to form the parallelly arranged straight legs I5 and I6 respectively, the leg l5 extending from the loop I2, while the leg l6 extends from the loop I3, and being in front to rear relationship to each other as viewed in front elevation.

The lower end of the straight leg 15 is bent outwardly and formed into a lower loop l8 and is then extended upwardly as a leg 2I and. inwardly curved, as indicated by the numeral 'Zla, and as the wire nears the anchor loops I2 and 13, it is bent outwardly and thence inwardly into an arc of a circle to form a handle portion 22.

The lower end of the straight leg I 6 is bent outwardly at its lower end portion or to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, and is formed into a lower loop I9, and is then extended upwardly as leg 24 and inwardly curved as indicated by numeral 24a, and then is formed into an arc of a circle to form a handle portion 25.

The free end portions of the wire 25 and 22 overlap and are welded together as at 21, thus forming a substantial rigid handle which yields somewhat at both sides when my device is under tension.

The wire I0 is made of spring material, preferably rust resisting in itself, or coated with material which renders it rust proof.

It will be noted that the leg members 15, 2|, and I6, 24, as viewed in side elevation, lie in planes parallel to each other, but as viewed in front elevation, the legs I5 and I6 are parallel to but one is spaced laterally and rearwardly from the other, while the legs 2| and 24 are likewise so spaced and curve inwardly toward each other, and also overlap. There results from this construction a passage 28 defined by the anchor loops I2 and I3, the upper ends of the straight legs I5 and I5 and the curved legs 2i and 24, and. in which the clothes line is pocketed when the device is in use. The resilient curved legs 2I and 24 act to retain the device on the clothes line against accidental removal, and yet permit ready removal thereof when desired. Also, the outwardly curved lower ends of the legs define a flared opening to facilitate the placing of the device on a clothes line.

What I claim is:

1. A clamping device formed of flexible material com-prising a loop portion embodying at least one and one-half turns, two extending portions from said loop portion lying substantially parallel to form leg portions, said leg portions extending in a reverse direction past and outside of said loop portion to form a handle loop.

2. A clamping device formed of flexible material comprising a loop portion embodying at least one and one-half turns, two extending portions from said loop portion lying substantially parallel to form leg portions, said leg portions extending in a reverse direction past and outside of said loop portion to form a handle loop, said reversely extending portions curving inwardly towards each other for a portion of their length opposite said parallel portions.

3. A clamping device formed of flexible material comprising a loop portion embodying at least one and one-half turns, two extending portions from said loop portion lying substantially parallel to form leg portions, said leg portions extending in a reverse direction past and outside of said loop portion and being united to form a closed handle loop.

ARCHIBALD A. MACDONALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,267,694 Ralston May 28, 1918 1,346,608 Pratt July 13, 1920 2,101,742 Lognion Dec. '7, 1937 

